HC Deb 17 January 1997 vol 288 cc413-5W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many district nurses there were per 5,000 people in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement; [9774]

(2) how many district nurses there were in each year since 1979 (a) nationally and (b) by region; and if he will make a statement. [9773]

Mr. Horam

The information requested is shown in the tables.

4 Figures for south-east Thames, and subsequently to a lesser extent the England totals, should be treated with caution. There was evidence of considerable under recording of occupation codes used to allocate staff to a particular area of work in the South-east Thames region in 1989 and several years prior to this.

5 The decrease in practice nurses in 1994 is due to a non-submission of complete data relating to fundholding practices for certain FHSAs.

6 Greater than zero but less than five.

— = Zero.

n/a = not available.

Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, consequently, totals may not equal sum of components.

Sources:

Department of Health non-medical work force census.

Department of Health general medical service census.

Office for National Statistics.

NHS hospital and community health services district nurses, as defined by new occupation codes, by regional health authority, England, as at 30 September 1995
1995
England 11,380
(per 5,000 head of population) (1.16)
Northern 740
Yorkshire 750
Trent 1,010
East Anglia 610
North-west Thames 540
North-east Thames 890
South-east Thames 1,070
South-west Thames 660
Wessex 630
Oxford 610
South Western 800
West Midlands 1,210
Mersey 380
North Western 1,250
SHAs and others 1
Notes:
A new classification for non-medical staff was introduced in 1995. Information based on this classification is not directly comparable with earlier years.
Figures are rounded to the nearest 10; consequently, totals may not equal sum of components.
1 Greater than zero but less than five.

Source:

Department of Health annual non-medical work force census Office for National Statistics.